Musical instrument



Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments and particularly to saxophones.

It is well known, by those acquainted with Saxophones, that the fingering of the valve keys, for producing the notes of the higher register,-is very difiicult. This is due to the reason that it is necessary to operate a multiplicity of valves in order to produce such notes. In the saxophones of common construction, the opera- .tion of these valves is performed by operating a separate key for each valve. This requires the use of from two to four fingers at the same time in order to operate the proper combination of valves for sounding a single note.

Such key mechanisms as have been heretofore invented for operating more than one valve with a single key have been found impractical for the reason that, at best, some notes still require the combined operation of two valves with .two keys in order to permit the proper one of said valves to be operated singly so as to enable'the player to play a middle C to D trill.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a mechanism whereby the fingering,

.which is required for operating the valves to produce the notes of the higher register, is greatly simplified.

A further object is the provision of a key mechanism whereby either of the notes such as D- natural, D-sharp or E-fiat, E-natural and F- natural, may be played by the operation of a single key with a single finger.

A still further object is to provide such a key mechanism which will permit independent operation of the key for playing a C to D trill.

Further objects will be clearly understood from the following description and from the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front view, in elevation, showing a section of a saxophone with the key mechanism comprising my invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the key mechanism arranged in semi-diagrammatic form.

Figure 3 is a side view, in section, on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar view on line 4- l of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a similar view on line 55 of Figure 2.

As illustrated in the drawing, the numeral 5 denotes the upper portion of a saxophone upon which is mounted my improved mechanism. The numerals 6, l, 8 and 9, denote the valve pads which are mounted respectively on levers H), II,

I2 and I3 that are pivoted upon the spindles l4, l5, l6 and IT. The pad I has a finger 13 which is engaged by a rocker lever 19 that is pivoted on the spindle 20 for operating said pad.

Each of the levers are provided, respectively, with a finger key 2|, 22, 23 and 24.

A separate rocker lever 25 is provided adjacent the lever l2 which operates the pad 8. This lever 25 is mounted upon the same spindle it with the said lever l2 but rotates on said spindle independently of said lever and is provided with a separate finger key 26.

A plurality of levers, 21, 28 and 29 are unitarily mounted upon a spindle 30 which is positioned upon the saxophone diagonally with rela- 15 tion to the axis of the other mechanism for the purpose to be hereinafter describe-d.

It will be noted that the lever [9, which operates the pad I, crosses over the lever in, which operates the pad 6, and has a finger 31 extending under the finger key 2| on the lever 10. The rocker lever 2'! extends upwardly and has an upturned end disposed adjacent the underside of the finger key 24. The lever 28 extends upwardly through a loop 32' depending from the 25 lever 25, which actuates the lever l2 for operating the pad 8, and the lever 29 extends over a projection 33 from the lever l3 which operates the pad 9.

Springs 34, 35, 36 and 31 are provided for forcing the pad operating levers upwardly away from the saxophone body and thereby holding the pads downwardly upon the valves. The pad I is forced downwardly by means of a spring acting upon the swivel shaft l5 which spring, however, is not shown in the drawing.

It will also be noted that the lever 25 has a finger 38 extending under the lever l2 for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

The operation of my improved key mechanism is as follows:

When it is required to play the note F, it is necessary to lift each of the valves 6, I, 8 and 9. In my improved mechanism, all of said valves may be lifted with a single finger by simply forcing downwardly on the finger key 2i. This will rock the lever l0 lifting the pad 6. At the same time the finger key 2! will press downwardly on the finger 3! rocking the lever l9 and lifting the pad. 1. The key 24 on the said lever I9 will force downwardly the lever 2'! rocking, therewith, the levers 28 and 29 which are integrally mounted therewith on the swivel 30. The lever 28 will rock the lever 25 downwardly which, by means of the finger 38 at the opposite end thereof, will lift the lever I2 and therewith the pad 8. The lever 29 will rock the lever I3, lifting the pad 9. It will, therefore, be seen that the four pads, 6, I, 8 and 9, necessary to be lifted for playing the note F may be operated simultaneously by simply pressing the finger key 2|. Y

To play the note E-natural, it is necessary to lift the three pads I, 8 and 9. This is done by simply pressing down upon the finger key 24 which moves the lever 27 downwardly and, through the levers 28 and 29, will also operate therewith the levers 25 and I3 thereby lifting the pads I, 8 and 9 simultaneously.

When it is desired to play the note D-sharp or E-fiat, it is necessary to lift the pads 8 and 9. This may be done by simply pressing down on the finger key 26 which will lift the lever I2 and the pad 8 thereon and also press the lever 28 downwardly rocking therewith the levers 2! and '29 and, by means of the lever 29, rocking the lever I3 and lifting the pad 9. In the operation of the key 26, the lever 21 will simply move away from the finger piece 24 without functioning.

When it is desired to play the note D, it is necessary to lift only the pad 9. This is done by simply pressing down on the finger key 23 and thereby rocking the lever I3 and lifting the said pad 9. In this case the finger key 33 on said lever will simply move away from the lever 29 without affecting either of the other levers.

When it is desired to play a C to D trill, it is necessary to lift the pad 8 alone without affecting any of the other pads. In my improved mechanism, this may be done by simply pressing downwardly on the finger key 22 which will rock the lever I2, independently of the other levers, and lift the pad 8 therewith. When this finger key 22 is pressed, it will simply move the lever I2 upwardly at its upper end and away from the finger 38.

From the above description, it will be clearly understood that my invention provides maximum simplicity in the operation of the various combination of pads for producing the different tones in the higher register and that each of the notes above mentioned may be produced by the operation of a single finger key. In other words, pressing of the finger key 2| will lift the four pads 6, I, 8 and 9 required to play the note F. Pressing of the finger key 24 will operate the three pads I, 8 and 9 required to play the note E -natural, pressing of the finger key 26 will operate the two pads 8 and 9 required to play the notes D-sharp or E-fiat and pressing of the finger key 23 will operate the one pad 9 required to play the note D.

It will also be seen from the description that my invention goes further viz: to provide the operation of the key 8 independently of and also in combination with the other pads. The same being operable independently to produce a middle C to D trill note by pressing down upon the finger key 22 which will cause separate operation of the said pad 8.

While I have shown and described the mechanism constructed in accordance with the embodiment disclosed in the drawing, it will be understood that the said keys may be operated by other arrangements of levers and parts wherein the objects of my invention may be obtained without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim: a

1.. In a saxophone comprising a plurality of aievea valves, a pad normally closing each of said valves, a lever whereby eachof said pads may be operated to open one of said valves, a finger key for each of said levers, intermediate levers whereby, upon the operation of a single one of said finger keys, a certain group of said valves may be opened to produce a note, certain of said valves being operable independent of the others and one of said valves being operable through the operation of two of said finger keys, one of which will operate the said valve in combination with certain groups of the other Valves through the operation of said intermediate levers and the other of which will operate said valve independently of the other valves for producing a C. to D trill note.

2. In a saxophone comprising a plurality of valves, the combination of mechanism including a lever for operating each of said valves, means comprising intermediate levers operable through the operation of one of said valves toopen the said valves in various group combinations for producing either of the notes F, E -natural, D- sharp, D-natural of the higher register or the middle C to D trill, one of said valves being operable independently of the others for producing the said C to D trill note and operable in combination with groups of the other valves through the said intermediate levers.

3. In combination with four valves of a saxophone or similar instrument; finger keys for operating said valves and a plurality of separately pivoted intermediate levers of different lengths unitarily mounted upon a single pivot whereby one or more of said valves are opened upon the operation of a single one of said finger keys.

4. In a saxophone or similar instrument, the combination of a plurality of valves comprising finger keys for opening the same, a separately mounted rocker bar, a plurality of intermediate levers rigidly mounted upon said bar and interconnected with said finger keys whereby one or more of said Valves may be opened upon the operation of one of said finger keys and means comprising a separate finger key in connection with one of said valves for opening the same independently of said intermediate levers.

5. In combination with three valves of a saxophone or other similar instrument, finger keys for opening the said valves, means comprising a plurality of intermediate levers unitarily mounted upon a single pivot whereby upon the operation of one of said finger keys two or more of said valves are opened, two of said levers being adapted to be operated in one direction by a finger key associated therewith and the other of said levers being operated in two directions by its connection with the finger key associated therewith for returning the said intermediate levers to their normal position.

6. In combination with a saxophone having a plurality of valves and means for interconnecting the said valves, a lever mounted upon a pivot for operating one of said valves independently of the others and a separate lever mounted upon said pivot for operating at least two of the other valves in combination; the said separate lever having means for engaging the lever of said valve and operating said valve in combination with the other valves.

7. In a saxophone comprising a plurality of valves each having a lever and a finger key on each of said levers for operating said valves and intermediate levers connected for operation through the operation of said finger keys for opening said valves in predetermined groups; at least two of said finger keys being arranged adjacent to each other and substantially in lineal alignment, with the said saxophone to provide for the operation of either one or the other of said adjacent keys by sliding the finger off of one key and directly on to the other.

8. In a saxophone comprising a plurality of 

